The Nature of Things

Chapter 23

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"What did you just say?"

Michael and Debbie both whipped around to find Carl standing just inside the front door.

"Hi, honey." Debbie crossed the room and kissed Carl. "Michael was just telling me about these dreams he's been having."

"I heard, Deb."

"Well then, you know that there is no way that Michael would ever do something like that."

"What I know is that I just possibly heard my stepson admit that he raped someone."

"Carl, that is not what Michael said. Tell him honey. Tell him it was just a dream." Debbie's eyes pleaded with her son to say he made it all up. Deep inside she knew by looking at him that wasn't the case.

"Michael, I think I should call someone else in to take your statement. And I'm going to need to talk to Justin."

Michael shook his head in understanding. "I don't even know if he knows it happened."

"Well, son, he's about to get the shock of his life." Turning back to Debbie, he looked at her sadly before continuing. "Maybe you should call Brian and ask him to bring Justin by."

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Carl. Brian will kill Michael."

"He's going to find out sooner or later, especially if it really happened."

"It's okay, Ma, I want to tell him. They both deserve the chance to confront me. And so does Ben."

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Ben answered his phone and listened as Debbie told him to be at her house in two hours. Without waiting for an answer she hung up, leaving him more confused than ever about his mother-in-law.

Brian tried to argue but gave in after just mere moments of Debbie's ranting. He agreed to meet her at her house in an hour.

Justin was still at Craig's when Debbie called. He tried to argue, but he too eventually gave in. Debbie could be very persuasive when she needed to be.

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Molly sat in her room upstairs in Brian's house and thought about what she planned to do. Her first instinct had been right. She had found the perfect way to get those two back together and she planned to fight for it until the last possible second.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell.

"Molly Taylor?"

"Yes?"

"You've been served."

Molly opened the papers and promptly screamed.

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Brian, Ben and Justin all arrived at the same time and stood on the front porch contemplating what the emergency was while waiting for Debbie to open the door.

Once inside the three men immediately sensed that something serious was going on and Brian was the first to speak.

"What the fuck is going on, Deb?"

"Do you want some wine or maybe a cookie?" Debbie tried to stall.

"Debbie, is something wrong?" Justin studied her face and could see the worry in her eyes.

Ben stepped up, took her hand and led her to the sofa. "Maybe you should sit down, Ma."

"I agree, you should sit, Ma."

All eyes turned to the sound of Michael's voice. Ben held on to Debbie's hand as he stared at his partner. Stepping forward he let his anger at Michael out for the first time since he'd left.

"When the fuck were you planning to tell me you were home?"

"I'm sorry, Ben. Right now that's all I can say."

"Look, Ben, you two can argue later." Brian looked over at Debbie and pressed, "Now what the fuck is going on here?"

"I can answer that," Michael added.

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Molly wiped the tears from her eyes and tried Brian's cell. Getting no answer she called Cynthia. After explaining what had happened Cynthia promised Molly she would find Brian and both of them would be there within the hour.

Cynthia dialed Debbie's number from Brian's rolodex and waited patiently for an answer. She knew that Brian would bitch her out for calling him there, especially since he'd told her to tell no one where he was and to cancel all of his appointments for the day. She almost frightened herself out of calling, but remembering how scared Molly sounded convinced her to finish what was started.

Asking politely for Brian when Carl answered, she held her breath as she heard him bitching.

"What?"

"Molly." She knew that one word would calm him down enough to listen. "She called crying because she couldn't get a hold of you. Something is wrong Brian and she needs you."

"What happened?"

"I promised her I wouldn't tell you."

"Is it the baby?"

Brian sounded terrified, but Cynthia refused to tell him. She asked him to meet her at the house in half an hour and hung up without waiting for an answer.

Making his excuses to Debbie, he anticipated an argument, and was prepared to fight.

"Sorry, but I have to go and I'm taking Justin with me."

"This is no time to think about getting your cock sucked Brian." Debbie wanted this over and she wanted it all out in the open now.

"Debbie, I can't really go into detail, but something's going on with Molly and I have to go. I just thought it would be a good idea for Justin to come too."

Debbie sighed loudly, looked to Michael and Carl and then back to Brian and Justin before speaking. "Go. Go take care of Molly. God knows she deserves to interrupt anything she wants. This can hold, not for long, mind you, but it can hold for a day."

Justin and Brian both kissed her cheek and ran for the door. They were silent the whole way to Brian's house. Brian pulled into the drive, slammed the 'Vette into neutral, pulled the parking brake and ran for the house.

He found Molly and Cynthia in her room. Molly was lying on the bed crying and Cynthia was gently stroking her hair. Cynthia pulled Brian out of the room and tried to prepare him for what he was about to hear.

"It's bad, Bri. Jen's in the kitchen making tea; I'll go get her."

Brian simply nodded and went back in. He sat on the edge of Molly's bed and held her hand as they all waited for her mother and Cynthia to join them. Molly struggled with her tears, trying her best to be strong just one more time. She even tried to reassure Brian, but nothing could've prepared him for what he heard next.

Molly pulled out the court papers she had recieved earlier and handed them to Brian.

"He's suing me for custody."

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